Bamboo Blog

Hey guys, always checking in on this board. Helped me get my feet off the ground in terms of fly fishing.

Over the past few years I have been making bamboo fly rods and more recently just started writing about it on my blog. Check it out. Comment, questions.

http://dehartofamaker.wordpress.com/

I want to get to more basic rod making steps going forward.

*Edited to say not posting for commercial purpose.

Take care
Doug

Hey Doug. Just read through your blog last night; great job! I have really been interested in building a bamboo rod lately and your blog made for some great motivation. One question: which planing form did you end up getting & why? Thanks.

-Tom

P.S. Go Pens!

I spent an hour this morning reading through your blog. I enjoyed the AK Best interview, the Engle interview, and your trials and tribulations as you waded into bamboo rods. Everybody needs a dog like Gordie. You should be very happy to have a wife who tolerates your hobbies and let's hope she continues to tolerate them now that you're chained for life. I can only speak from my experience, but my wife has tolerated my flyfishing addiction for many years--more than you've been alive. Your upcoming trip to Montana should be loads of fun. The planning is usually as much fun as the actual trip (NOT) but I'm sure you'll all enjoy it immensely, and I hope you get into some of those bull trout. They love streamers and you can handle them on a 5 weight if you don't horse them. It's really great to see some new, young blood coming into the sport. Enjoy the journey and remember there are no mulligans in life.

Wow. Flattered by the comments guys. Means alot! So far so good on wife tolerating my obsession. Have spent past few saturdays in my shop while the leaves continue to pile up.....This this weekend will be spent hanging Christmas lights, gotta put my time in. ALSO, If Gordie manages to get sprayed by a skunk one more time, you can have em....He has been sprayed twice, and most recently found a dead one to roll around on.

Tom, for some reason my blog has attracted more than a few Pens fans.....I Do love watching Crosby play. As for my forms, my parents bought them for me when I was a junior in highschool, so like 11 years ago. But they got them from Lon Blauvelt http://bambooflyrods.tripod.com/flyrods.html .......While some makers told me I wouldn't get dead on accurate angles with these forms, I have found that to not be the case at all. My only complaint would be the steel bars are thinner, and the forms not as heavy as those sold by Bellenger or Wagner. All three are great to deal with. When it comes to making a tool purchase for rod making I'd suggest buy the best you can. Almost all of the tools can be re-sold if you don't get addicted to the hobby. But if money is tight, get what you can and just jump in. The best thing Jim Downes taught me was to just "make the friggin rod".

If I can help out anyone needing some motivation or simple start up info, I'd be more than happy to help anyway I can.
Thanks again for the nice words.
Doug

Nice blog! Makes me consider cane even more than before. Thanks for sharing.